| (iv) an instrument that detects a rapid increase in
the brine flow rate indicative of hydrocarbon in the brine and that
is set to automatically close emergency shutdown valves on the brine
side of the wellhead and on the fresh water piping, if any, in response
to a preset flow rate or differential flow rate; or
(v) an alternative device or method approved by the
Commission.
(B) Solution mining of a cavern may occur while gas
is in storage, provided that the injection of fresh water and the
injection of gas do not occur simultaneously within the same cavern.
(5) Leak or fire detectors.
(A) Within two years of the effective date of this
section, a leak or fire detector shall be installed and in operation
at each gas storage well and each structurally enclosed compressor
site.
(B) Leak or fire detectors shall be tested twice each
calendar year at intervals not to exceed 7 1/2 months, and, when defective,
repaired or replaced within 10 days. Leak or fire detectors shall
be integrated with warning systems required in paragraph (6)(A) of
this subsection.
(6) Warning systems and alarms.
(A) Within two years of the effective date of this
section, all leak or fire detectors and sensors or methods that actuate
the emergency shutdown valve shall be integrated with warning systems
that are audible and visible in the control room and at any remote
control center. The circuitry shall be designed so that failure of
a leak or fire detector to function will activate the warning.
(B) A manually operated audible alarm shall be installed
at each attended storage facility. The alarm shall be audible in areas
of the facility where personnel are normally located.
(7) Emergency response plan. Each storage facility
shall submit to the Commission a written emergency response plan.
The plan shall address gas releases, fires, fire suppression capability,
explosions, loss of electricity, and loss of telecommunication services.
The plan shall describe the facility's emergency response communication
system, procedures for coordination of emergency communication and
response activities with local authorities, use of warning systems,
procedures for citizen and employee emergency notification and evacuation,
and employee training. The plan shall also include a plat of the facility
showing the locations of wells, processing areas, and other significant
features at the facility. The initial plan must be designed based
upon the existing safety measures at the facility. The plan shall
be updated as changes in safety features at the facility occur, or
as the Commission or its designee requires. A copy of the plan shall
be provided to the local emergency response committee and to any other
local governmental entity that submits a written request for a copy
of the plan to the operator. Copies of the plan shall also be available
at the storage facility and at the company headquarters.
(8) Notification of emergency or uncontrolled release.
(A) Emergency response personnel. Each operator shall
notify the county sheriff's office, the county emergency management
coordinator, and any other appropriate public officials which are
identified in the emergency response plan of any emergency that could
endanger nearby residents or property. Such emergencies include, but
are not limited to, an uncontrolled release of hydrocarbons from a
storage well or a leak or fire at any area of the storage facility.
The operator shall give notice as soon as practicable following the
discovery of the emergency. At the time of the notice, the operator
shall also report an assessment of the potential threat to the public.
(B) Commission. The operator shall report to the appropriate
Commission district office as soon as practicable any emergency, significant
loss of gas or fluids, significant mechanical failure, or other problem
that increases the potential for an uncontrolled release. The operator
shall file with the Commission within 30 days of the incident a written
report on the root cause of the incident. Within 90 days of the incident,
the operator shall file with the Commission a written report that
describes the operational changes, if any, that have been or will
be implemented to reduce the likelihood of a recurrence of a similar
incident. An operator may request that the Commission grant, for good
cause, a reasonable amount of additional time to file a written report
on the root cause of the incident.
(9) Annual emergency drill. Annually, each operator
shall conduct a drill that tests response to a simulated emergency.
Written notice of the drill shall be provided to the appropriate Commission
district office, the county emergency management coordinator, and
the county sheriff's office at least seven days prior to the drill.
Local emergency response authorities shall be invited to participate
in all such drills. The operator shall file a written evaluation of
the drill and plans for improvements with the appropriate district
office and the county emergency management coordinator within 30 days
after the date of the drill.
(10) Employee safety training.
(A) Each operator shall prepare and implement a plan
to train and test each employee at each underground gas storage facility
on operational safety to the extent applicable to the employee's duties
and responsibilities. The facility's emergency response plan shall
be included in the training program.
(B) Each operator shall hold a safety meeting with
each contractor prior to the commencement of any new contract work
at an underground gas storage facility. Emergency measures, including
safety and evacuation measures specific to the contractor's work,
shall be explained in the contractor safety meeting.
(11) Fire suppression capability.
(A) Within three years of the effective date of this
section, each operator shall have fire suppression capability designed
to aid in personnel rescue and equipment protection and cooling.
(B) Within one year of the effective date of this section,
the operator may request an exception to the schedule or fire suppression
requirement of this paragraph and propose an alternative schedule
or means of protection from wellhead fire for approval of the Commission
or its designee.
(12) Wellhead, piping, and associated valves. All wellhead
surface piping and associated valves shall be designed, installed,
and operated in accordance with engineering standards to the expected
service conditions to which the piping and equipment will be subjected.
(13) Barriers. Within one year of the effective date
of this section, barriers designed to prevent unintended impact by
vehicles and equipment shall be placed around above grade hydrocarbon
piping, hydrocarbon process equipment where vehicles may normally
be expected to travel, or within 100 feet of a public road.
(i) Cavern capacity and configuration.
(1) Before storage operations begin. The capacity and
configuration of each gas storage cavern (both salt domes and bedded
salt) shall be determined by sonar survey before storage operations
begin in a newly completed cavern.
(2) Salt domes. The capacity and configuration of each
salt dome gas storage cavern shall be determined by sonar survey before
a cavern that has been out of service is returned to service, provided,
however, that a sonar survey shall not be required on a cavern that
is being returned to service if a sonar survey of that cavern has
been run at any time during the previous 10 years.
(3) Bedded salt. The configuration of the roof of each
gas storage cavern in bedded salt shall be determined by downhole
log or an alternate method approved by the Commission, or its designee,
at least once every five years.
(4) Filing of results. Sonar and roof monitoring survey
results shall be filed with the Commission within 30 days after the
survey.
(5) Out-of-service caverns. A sonar or roof monitoring
survey is not required for a cavern that is out of service. A sonar
or roof monitoring survey shall be performed before any such cavern
that has been out of service is returned to service, unless the provisions
of paragraph (2) of this subsection apply.
(6) Verification. Sonar surveys performed before debrining
shall be verified by metering the volume of the displaced brine.
(j) Well completion, casing, and cementing. Gas storage
wells shall be cased and the casing strings cemented to prevent gases
from escaping to the surface or into fresh water strata, or otherwise
escaping and causing waste or endangering public safety or the environment.
(1) New wells.
(A) All gas storage wells drilled in salt domes after
the effective date of this section shall have at least two casing
strings cemented into the salt formation. Sufficient cement shall
be used to fill the annular space outside the casing from the casing
shoe to the ground surface, or from the casing shoe to a point at
least 200 feet above the shoe of the previous casing string.
Cont'd... |
